Barbados struggling to avoid defeat as T&T press home advantage

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Barbados were left with a tall order to avoid losing their second straight TCL Group West Indies three-day Cup match after a superb century by Evin Lewis put Trinidad & Tobago firmly in charge on the second day yesterday.

The left-handed Lewis stroked 109 and Nicholas Alexis (85) and Yannick Cariah (59) fashioned attractive half-centuries as T&T posted 307 in reply to Barbados’ 183.

Seemingly en route to a massive score, T&T suffered a dramatic collapse, however, losing their last eight wickets for 61 runs, with impressive left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican grabbing six for 86.

Trailing by 134 runs, Barbados were 21 without loss at the close, still needing a further 103 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

Resuming at their overnight position of 37 without loss, T&T suffered an early setback when Mark Panchu was stumped by wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich for 19 off Warrican at 46 for one.

Lewis and Alexis then battered Barbados with a second-wicket partnership of 148, with both batsmen playing a number of attractive strokes to bring the Up Park Camp ground to life.

Lewis was the more aggressive of the two, hitting the ball powerfully on both sides of the wicket and at lunch, T&T were cruising at 137 for one with Lewis unbeaten on 55 and Alexis, on 53.

Alexis continued in similar vein after the interval and seemed on course for a century when he was adjudged lbw to pacer Jason Holder at 194 for two, after stroking 13 fours and one six in an innings lasting 201 minutes and required 190 balls.
There was further punishment for the Barbadians as Cariah joined Lewis to post a further 52 for the third wicket. Along the way, Lewis raised his century to extend his excellent form in the tournament before eventually falling to Warrican, caught by Kraigg Brathwaite on the mid-wicket boundary.

His innings spanned 148 balls and 212 minutes and contained 11 fours and four sixes.

After his dismissal, wickets fell steadily and only Cariah held firm against the spin attack of Warrican and off-spinner Roston chase, before being the last batsman dismissed.

His knock included seven fours, off 131 balls and lasted two hours.

Chase supported Warrican admirably with three for 55.

Faced with a difficult five overs before the close, openers Anthony Alleyne (13 not out) and Brathwaite (8 not out) saw them safely to the end without alarm.